Why Visit Fort Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Harrison Lake?
Are you looking for a quick getaway from Vancouver, British Columbia (BC)? Do you prefer off-the-beaten-path destinations without hordes of tourists? Then you can enjoy a relaxing time in the Fraser Valley within day-trip distance from Vancouver.
Sightseeing Summary
The Fraser Valley offers picturesque lakes and mountains, farms and food. You can enjoy authentic and less crowded experiences in Fort Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Harrison Lake.
Fort Langley is a former Hudson’s Bay fur trading post with re-enactments by interpreters in costume. Alouette and Harrison Lakes provide beaches and mountain views.
This itinerary is also fun for children. They can see farm animals, an antique car, a whimsical fairy tale castle, and – best of all – enjoy farm fresh foods and ice cream. Many of the following gems were our favourites that we discovered using the Circle Farm Tours agrotourism pamphlets.
Author & Photographer: George Mitchell
Our recommendations are not influenced by affiliate links – we have none. Our content and advice are based on our extensive experience living in Western Canada. We are avid hikers, nature lovers and photographers (all photos are my own).
All of our recommendations are top-rated by Google Maps Ratings, which is based on everyone, not just tourists. Each place recommended in our custom Vancouver to Hope Map is appended with a Google Maps Rating (G0 to G5).
Fraser Valley Itinerary
If you are staying in Vancouver, you can do a separate day trip to each region – Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Harrison Lake. If you are doing this as part of a larger road trip, you can select the places you are interested in and plan to stay in Harrison Lake or Hope before heading to your next destination.
From Vancouver, it is only 131 km (1:45 hrs) to the furthest point on this itinerary, Harrison Lake. It is an expressway most of the way. However, it may take much more time because of traffic congestion not only inside Vancouver but just before Langley, where the expressway narrows to two lanes in each direction. The Trans Canada Highway should have twice the number of lanes to support the wall-to-wall traffic.
Fort Langley
Thomas Lee purchased a tract of land from Lord Thomas Fairfax and named it Langley after his ancestral home in England. It’s a pleasant place to stroll and is thus busy on weekends.
The main streets, Glover Road and Mavis Ave., are lined with attractive century-old houses and shops. For instance, see the CN Station G4.5 (1915), Beatniks Bistro G4.5 (1933), and St George’s Anglican Church G4.6 (1901). It is no wonder that many productions are filmed here, including Air Bud, Once Upon a Time, Twilight, Supernatural, and over 30 Hallmark movies.
Republica Coffee
Address: 9203 Glover Road, Langley, BC
Hours: 09:30 to 17:00 hrs. Mon-Sun; closed on holidays
Website: Republica Coffee
Address: 5674 176 St, Cloverdale, Surrey, BC
Hours: 07:00 to 17:00 hrs. Mon-Sun; closed on holidays
One reason we love Fort Langley is Republica Coffee, a local coffee roaster. Here we buy beans as well as a cappuccino to sip on the outside tables. Republica beans are also sold at Lepp Farm Market (Abbottsford) and their Cloverdale shop in Surrey. Our favourite blends are Diabolique (espresso) and Fort Langley Post (medium dark). We use Diabolique for drip coffee as well – it is so smooth.
Fort Langley National Historic Site
Entry Fee: Adult $9; Senior $7.50, Youth (6-17 yo) free;
included under Parks Canada Discovery Passes
Hours: 10:00 to 17:00 hrs. daily, except Christmas time
Website: Fort Langley NHS and their Site Map
The main reason to go to Fort Langley is to visit the preserved Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) fur trading post. In the early 19th century, the Canada-USA border was still being negotiated. The British decided to create a new fort north of their old base in Vancouver, WA. Fort Langley was built in 1827 on the banks of the Fraser River. Rivers were the main highways of the Old West, so you would have arrived at the fort by dugout canoe or boat.
Every trading post had a Chief Factor or managing director. Here Chief Factor James McMillan (re-enactment) is welcoming us to the fort during the Fort 101 interpretive program. This was followed by a musket-firing demonstration.
Big House
The Big House is the largest building on the site. It was built as the residence and administrative center for the HBC officers.
Only the senior positions of a post were occupied by Europeans, who came as single men. HBC encouraged its men to marry First Nation (FN) women to access Indigenous trade networks and alliances.
The majority of HBC employees were First Nation or Metis (mixed marriage). Because of their roles as liaisons and hunters, the FN had more influence during the fur trade era than after it ended.
If you are interested in the Canada’s Unwild West then be sure to visit Fort St James, the Last Fur Trade Post in Northern BC.
Cooperage
A cooperage is a barrel factory. A cooper is a barrel maker. The Middle English word couper is derived from Middle Dutch kūper (kūp means “tub container”). This occupation is the origin of the family name Cooper.
Barrels were the most popular type of shipping container. The earliest known use of barrels dates back to Ancient Egypt in 2600 BC! They sit flat so they are stable on boat decks. Their convex sides (bilge) make it easy to roll on the decks. The bilge also protects the barrels from bumps and pressure.
By 1830, Fort Langley had established itself as a significant export hub, dealing in barrels of salted salmon, along with cedar lumber and shingles. Within its dimly lit workshops, William Cromarty and fellow coopers crafted barrels, which were also utilized for shipping cranberries and various agricultural products.
The coopers were the highest-paid workers in the fort. Coopers steamed and curved white pine staves. Then they hammered metal loops to form barrels. A team of coopers could complete ten barrels per day.
Blacksmith
Visit the workshop where blacksmiths like James Taylor forged iron tools to trade with Indigenous traders. Iron hardware was also shipped to other HBC posts.
Baking Demo
Another demonstration described the use of the oven for cooking. The outdoor oven was a vital part of everyday life, mainly utilized for baking bread. It was heated by burning wood until it reached the desired temperature, after which the embers were cleared out and the dough was placed inside to bake.
Gold Panning
At the gold panning exhibit, you can try your luck at gold panning. The discovery of gold in the Fraser River transformed Fort Langley from a modest trading post into a bustling port.
Fraser and Cariboo Gold Rushes
The Fraser River Gold Rush brought 30,000 prospectors – many of them American – to the area. Prospectors stopped at Fort Langley to buy supplies before continuing up the Fraser River.
The influx of miners and the fear of American annexation led Great Britain to protect this unclaimed territory. In 1858, Fort Langley became the site where Governor James Douglas formally proclaimed the Colony of British Columbia.
A bigger gold rush started in 1861 in the Cariboo Mountains. Prospectors travelled from Fort Langley to Barkerville BC: the Town that Changed the History of Canada.
Event Planning
We really enjoyed the interpretive events provided for free. As a result, we stayed longer than expected – nearly a full day.
The following are some of the regularly scheduled events. Knowledgeable guides are dressed in period costume and provide a wealth of information about life at the fort during the fur trade era.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 10:30 | Fort 101 Introduction |
| 11:30 | Blacksmith Demonstration |
| 12:00 | Curator’s Corner in the Big House |
| 14:00 | Women Who Shaped James Douglas’ Legacy |
| 15:00 | Curator’s Corner in the Big House |
| 15:30 | Blacksmith Demonstration |
See the Fort Langley Calendar page for special events. Also, be sure to visit the gift shop.
Kensington Prairie Farm
Address: 1736 248th St.
Hours: Fri 12:00 – 17:00; Sat 10:00 – 16:00; Sun 12:00 – 16:00
Website: Kensington Prairie Farm
Observing an alpaca herd is a delightful experience for children (and adults, too). Meanwhile, adults have the opportunity to purchase alpaca fleece, blankets, and hides at the on-site store.
Golden Ears Prov Park
Vancouver to Alouette Lake North 65 km 1:17 hrs
Fort Langley to Alouette Lake North 38 km 0:45 hrs
N.B.: There is no cell service in the park.
If you have time, you can head to Alouette Lake and Lake Buntzen via the Golden Ears Bridge before returning to Vancouver. Golden Ears Provincial Park is located north of the suburb of Maple Ridge.
The southern shore of Alouette (lark) Lake is graced with a large public beach and picnic site. It is a very urban setting with an open grassy lawn and a beach with views of the mountains. There are campgrounds in the central part of the park.
Halfway up the road is the parking lot for North Beach. This requires a short one-km trail through a delightful cedar and fern forest along a gentle stream. Some people unloaded their kayaks and paddled to the beach. The trail is off the road just before the parking lot.
This was the view upstream at the end of the trail near the beach.
It felt more like wilderness here than on the South Beach.
The view to the northeast is complete wilderness. Alouette Lake is 16 km long. The distant snow-capped Stonerabbit Peak seems small, but it is 1,857 m (6,093 ft) high.
Buntzen Lake
Open Hours: April-Aug 08:00 – 20:00; else until 19:00
Vancouver to Buntzen Lake 41 km 0:55 hrs
Alouette Lake to Buntzen Lake 43 km 0:57 hrs
Buntzen Lake provides a beautiful view with reflections of mountains hemming in the dammed lake.
Note: All vehicles will need to book a free parking pass before arriving at Buntzen Lake from May 16 to September 2. Parking passes are available starting at 7:00 hrs. the day before your planned visit.
Abbotsford
Neufeld Farm Market
Address: 52235 King Rd.
Hours: 09:30 – 17:30 hrs. Mon-Sat
Website: Neufeld Farm Market
The Circle Farm Tours pamphlets list many places to shop for fruits and vegetables in the Abbotsford Farm Tour area, such as the Neufeld Farm Store. There are also many wineries in the Fraser Valley, such as Lehman Winery.
Lepp Farm Market
Address: Mission Hwy 11 & Clayburn Rd.
Hours: 09:00 – 20:00 hrs. daily
Website: Lepp Farm Market
After filling up at the much cheaper Costco gas station on Highway 11 south, we make our pilgrimage to Lepp Farm Market on Highway 11 north of town.
We always stop here to bring fresh produce home to Vancouver. Their sweet corn on the cob is to die for. If it’s close to lunch time (or not), we can pick up a meal and coffee. Lepp also has delicious scones, lemon squares and other pastries.
Lepp Bakehouse and Deli Café
There is also the Lepp Bakehouse and Deli Café (G4.6) in town for a nicer sit-down experience. They serve various meals, but we brought fresh bread and deli and made our own sandwiches. Here, they serve a better espresso-based coffee called Smoking Gun. You can buy Republica and Smoking Gun beans at the market.
Mt Baker Views
There are spectacular views near Whatcom and Nelles Roads. The name Whatcom originates from “What-Coom”, meaning “noisy, rumbling water”. This is the Lummi Indian name for a waterfall in Washington State.
What a great view of Mount Baker (G4.7) in Washington. This active volcano is the biggest threat to BC. This 3,286 m (10,781 ft) mountain is a glacier-covered stratovolcano.
It is only 75 km away from Abbotsford, 145 km away from Vancouver, and 120 km (75 mi as the crow flies) from Victoria. See photos from Mount Tolmie Park viewpoint in Victoria Vistas – Fairy Tale Castles and Volcanoes.
Another great view is available from the Trans Canada Highway between Langley and Abbotsford. However, I would not recommend stopping there as it would be dangerous getting back into the traffic. I have pinned other viewpoints recommended by locals on our Vancouver to Hope Map.
Birchwood Dairy Farm
Address: 1154 Fadden Rd.
Hours: 09:30 -18:00; Jul 01 to Sep 05 until 20:00
Website: Birchwood Dairy Farm
Birchwood Dairy Farm makes 40 flavours of very good ice cream with 16% butterfat. We ate it outside with views of the corn fields to the north and the North Cascade Mountains to the south.
We walked to the remnants of an antique petrol filler. Here we found a red antique truck. Another family favourite is the petting zoo, open from June to early September.
Goat’s Pride Dairy
Address: 30854 Olund Rd.
Hours: 09:00 – 18:00 Mon-Sat
Website: Goat’s Pride Dairy
Goat’s Pride Dairy produces goat milk, yogurt and cheese. Kids will be kids – even goat kids. One curious kid swarmed to the fence to check us out.
Chilliwack
The sights are actually in the countryside south of the city.
Chilliwack River Valley Honey
Address: 43476 Adams Rd.; also in Granville Market, Vancouver
Hours: 09:00 – 17:00 hrs. Tue-Sat
Website: Chilliwack Honey
There was a very wide variety of honey. Honey taste varies considerably according to the flowers from which bees collect nectar.
But my favourite part of the honey hut was the gorgeous floral display outside, like this Tiger Lily.
This arrangement has Garden Dahlias on top. Orange False Sunflowers, yellow Narrow Leaf Zinnias, and red Mexican Zinnias are on the left. Purple Dense Blazing Stars are on the right. White Sweet Alyssum is at the bottom.
Smits and Co.w Farm Cheese
Address: 5787 Lickman Rd, Chilliwack
Hours: 09:00 – 17:00 hrs. Thu-Sat
Website: Smits and Co.w Farm
Just south of Anita’s Bread and Coffee (G4.8) is Smits and Co.w Farm Cheese (G4.8). This Dutch-Canadian family specialize in Gouda cheese. They also make a very tasty range of goat Gouda using goat’s milk from neighbouring farms. About 13% of Chilliwack is Dutch-Canadian.
Tanya is an Eastern European baker who sells unique Rustic Bread, Mediterranean Baguette, and delicious pastries under the left side patio of the Smuts & Cow Farm building on Saturdays only. This was probably the best baking on our trip.
Tanya’s Rustic Bread
45399 Watson Road, Chilliwack
Tanya has a place in Chilliwack where she bakes sun-dried baguettes, sourdough, cheese, rye breads, and naturally fermented loaves. Everything we tried was delicious.
Hofstede’s Country Barn
Address: 45796 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack
Hours: 08:00 – 18:00 hrs. Mon-Sat
Website: Hofstede’s
In addition to cheese, Hofstede also sells coffee, deli and baked goods.
Yarrow
Yarrow is a small village south of the city of Chilliwack.
Mighty Moose Ice Cream
Address: 45796 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack
Hours: 10:00 – 20:00 hrs. daily, closed Wed.
Season: May to Sep 30
Website: Mighty Moose Ice Cream
Our next stop was the highly rated Mighty Moose Ice Cream (G4.7). All Canadian Moose was our favourite flavour and appropriately includes peanut butter, a Canadian invention.
Imagination Corp
We came to Yarrow for the ice cream. We stayed for the architecture. We made this incredible discovery walking east of Mighty Moose on Yarrow Central Road to this ornate sign.
Don’t enter without an appointment, or you may end up like this dinosaur. Imagination Corp. specializes in the design of unique sculptures and one-of-a-kind dimensional signs.
It turns out that this is the headquarters of Imagination Corp. Their HQ was an incredible building with sculptured trees. Imagination specializes in the design and construction of custom architecture. Have you ever heard of it? It turns out that they designed several themed rides and stores for West Edmonton Mall (WEM) in Edmonton, Alberta, the Mall of America in Minneapolis (a child of WEM), Trinidad & Tobago, and even Dubai.
Hazelnut Inn
We thought the next-door building was make-believe! The Hazelnut Inn (G4.6) looks to be straight out of a fairy tale. Yes, you can sleep at this Imagination Corp. hotel.
Harrison Lake Area
The best sights are north of the Trans Canada. Follow the signs to Harrison Hot Springs.
Farmhouse Natural Cheese
Address: 5634 McCallum Rd
Hours: 10:00 – 17:00 hrs. Mon-Sat
Website: Farmhouse Cheese
Farmhouse Natural Cheese has an amazing selection of goat cheeses. It sells Gouda (chilli, chive, cumin), goat Gouda, goat feta, goat brie, and goat cheddar.
Harrison Hot Springs
Harrison Hot Springs is the site of a famous hot springs resort. You have to walk to the edge of the beach to look back at the spectacular views of the North Cascade Mountains in Washington state.
You can also see these views behind the fancy houses near Balsam Ave. and Chestnut Ave.
Harrison Lake
Harrison Lake is the largest lake in BC: 60 km (37 mi) in length and 250 sq km (95 mi²) in area. That is twice the size of Vancouver!!
While they seem far inland, the mountains are still part of the Cordillera or Coastal Mountain Range. Also, note how this is not very crowded for peak season.
Muddy Waters
Address: 328 Esplanade Ave.
Hours: 09:00 – 20:00 hrs. Mon-Sun
Website: Muddy Waters
We usually stop for our espresso-based coffee at Muddy Waters in Harrison Hot Springs. But it also has a wide range of breakfast and lunch meals and pastries.
The city charges for parking on the lakeside Esplanade Avenue. Just park a block away for free.
Sasquatch Statue
At the beginning of the beach park is a statue of Sasquatch or Bigfoot, the mascot of the town. Sasquatch is a large and hairy human-like creature that lives in the Pacific Northwest. The myth goes back to Indigenous folklore. The Sts’ailes First Nation in western Canada describe a “Sasq’ets”, the supposed origin of the word Sasquatch.
Sasquatch Provincial Park
Take Rockwell Drive on the east side of the lake to see more views. Sometimes the water is a beautiful turquoise, indicating a glacial lake, but other times it is not. Yes, it was originally a glacier-carved freshwater fjord. This is the reason the lake is 279 m (915 ft) deep. This photo is full of haze caused by the faraway forest fires of 2017 burning in Bella Coola and Northern BC.
Green Point Picnic Area
Turn left to the beach at Green Point (G4.7) in Sasquatch Provincial Park. This was a very relaxing place with picnic benches and hardly any people in peak season. You can also camp in this park. There are also hiking trails to do in this park.
Itinerary Options
From Harrison Hot Springs, you have several alternatives.
- If this is a day trip, then you can make your way back.
- You can book a night or two and relax here.
- You can sleep here & drive east to Revelstoke or Golden or north to Williams Lake and Barkerville.
- You can book a night in Hope if you are heading east to Nelson, the Rockies or the Okanagan.
Harrison to Revelstoke 455 km 4:49 hrs
Harrison to Golden 603 km 6:32 hrs
Hope to Revelstoke 430 km 4:28 hrs
Hope to Golden 566 km 6:02 hrs
Hope to Osoyoos 247 km 2:45 hrs
Hope Slide
The Hope Slide occurred on 9 January 1965. The side of a mountain near the town of Hope crashed down onto Highway 3. The sheer volume is hard to comprehend – about 47 million cubic metres of debris filled the road valley.
Four persons in three vehicles were buried 38 m (yds) below the current road level. The trees have still not grown back. Recent studies disagree that the slide was triggered by two earthquakes. These seismic events are now believed to be due to the crashing of the rock as it hit the slope of the mountain across the valley!
Ironically, the memorial is also to two fatal plane crashes that occurred here in 1965-66. Next to the memorial is an electric vehicle charging station. So you can take a nice walk while your car recharges!
Final Comments on this Itinerary
This is a relaxing itinerary where you can get away from the crowds of tourists. You can do this itinerary as a series of day trips from Vancouver. Alternatively, you can stay overnight in Harrison Hot Springs or Hope.
This itinerary lets you experience authentic small-town and farm life in British Columbia.
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Itinerary Map & Resources
Google Maps Ratings
Google Maps provides a rating from 0 to 5 for all sights, hotels and restaurants (but not cities). All of our recommendations are appended with the rating (prefixed with a G) from Google Maps. As it is based on feedback from locals as well as tourists, it is much more reliable than travel booking websites. We consider a score of 4 to 4.39 to be Very Good; 4.4 to 5 to be Excellent.
Circle Farm Tours
Most tourists in BC focus on places they have heard about, what I call name recognition. This itinerary focuses on the off-the-beaten-path places to visit in the Fraser Valley. For those with more time or who live in BC, you can do the more detailed, self-driving farm tours.
Langley Farm Tour – Langley Download
Abbotsford Farm Tour – Abbotsford Download
Chilliwack Farm Tour –Chilliwack Download
Harrison Farm Tour – Harrison Download
Other Places to Add to Your Itinerary
Here are nearby places you might want to explore in or near Vancouver:
Here are nearby places you might want to explore inside Vancouver:
When is the Best Time to Visit Fraser Valley?
Here are the average high temperatures and rain days in Abbotsford by season based on weather similarity rather than traditional calendar dates.
| Season | Mean High Temp | Rain Days per Month |
|---|---|---|
| Nov-Mar | 8.2°C 46.8°F | 15.6 |
| Apr-May | 16.0°C 60.8°F | 12.0 |
| Jun-Sep | 22.5°C 72.5°F | 6.8 |
| Oct | 15.0°C 59.0°F | 12.0 |
Summer (Jun-Sep) has always been warm and sunny when we have visited. However, these historical averages do not reflect current global climate changes. Usually in Jul-Aug the high temperature is 24°C (75.2°F). This past summer, the high temperatures were 28-29°C (82.4°F). The Fraser Valley is always a few degrees hotter than along the coast in Vancouver.
October is cooler but can be very nice. Winter (Nov-Mar) is “cold” and rainy. Snow is very rare. It is still warm by Canadian standards.
For the agrotourism sights, some places are only open from June to early September. Some places are only open Friday to Sunday or Thursday to Saturday.
Canada FAQ
Fun & Interesting Facts about Vancouver
The Exploring Canada post answers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) like:
- How do you plan a trip to Canada?
- How safe is Canada?
- What is the best season for travel?
- Can I see everything in 2 or 3 weeks?
- What are the best places to see in Canada?
Terra Encounters 
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